The development of Christian thought from the first through the fourteenth century as expressed in the writings and practices of the Christian community and its leading thinkers.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Additional readings and a research paper along with more extensive examinations to reflect the additional responsibilities.
Athena Title
History of Christian Theology
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every even-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to trace the major theological developments from the first century to the fourteenth century, including early Christian doctrine, the formation of the Nicene Creed, and the development of key theological concepts such as the Trinity, Christology, and salvation.
By the end of this course, students should be able to discuss the evolution of key Christian doctrines, including original sin, the nature of the Church, the sacraments, and the role of grace, throughout the first fourteen centuries of Christian history.
By the end of this course, students should be able to assess the impact of theological controversies (e.g., Arianism, Pelagianism, Iconoclasm) and schisms (e.g., the Great Schism) on the development of Christian theology and the unity of the Church.
By the end of this course, students should be able to evaluate the ways in which theological ideas were shaped by the political, social, and cultural contexts of the Roman Empire, the early medieval period, and the High Middle Ages.
By the end of this course, students should be able to write a research paper on a theological topic from the early to medieval Church, demonstrating critical analysis, proper use of sources, and clear argumentation in accordance with scholarly standards.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction to Christian Theology and early church history
II. The Apostolic and Early Christian Period
III. The Councils and the Formation of Orthodox Doctrine
IV. The Patristic Period
V. The Early Medieval Period
VI. Scholasticism and the High Middle Ages
